reviews
Jul 21, 2010
Ben
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Mar 29, 2011
Cynthia
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Joseph II’s admonition to Mozart - “too many notes, my dear Mozart” - could be applied to Anne Easter Smith’s third novel THE KING’S GRACE, where there are too many words.
How can a novel have too many words? Isn’t a novel made out of words? The answer is that a novel can have too many words if the words get in the way of the reader’s attempts to get through the story.
Most writers want readers to love their books. They want their readers to find it hard to put down their n More...
How can a novel have too many words? Isn’t a novel made out of words? The answer is that a novel can have too many words if the words get in the way of the reader’s attempts to get through the story.
Most writers want readers to love their books. They want their readers to find it hard to put down their n More...
Jan 05, 2011
Karen
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This historical fiction is seen through the eyes of Grace Plantagenet, the illegitimate daughter of Edward IV. This is a great premise for a book since history has recorded little information about Grace and the story can go any direction the author wants without refuting historical facts. I love books about this period in history and was excited to start this book, but I was not drawn in to this story at all.
Grace lives a sheltered life in a convent until she is thrust into the worl More...
Grace lives a sheltered life in a convent until she is thrust into the worl More...
Aug 09, 2011
This was a really interesting book - based on the sole surviving reference to the King's bastard daughter Grace. Covers the end of the Plantagenet era and the very early Tudor era (one of my favourite moments is when Queen Bess, wife of Henry VII, says of her sons that she is glad the calmer, more rational Arthur will be King instead of the impetuous Harry - who, of course, went on to he the famously impetuous Henry VIII). The only problem - one that is really confusing as a reader and one that
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Jul 17, 2009
Patricia
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I thoroughly enjoyed this and plan to read the two previous novels, A Rose for the Crown and Daughter of York. Okay, we know I'm an English history freak, particularly the Plantagenet/Tudor eras, so these novels are right up my alley. I met this author at a book signing when this came out and was impressed by her research and knowledge of the period. And she's a member of the Richard III Society so we have similar views on many of the historical figures involved. I read this book - it's a lo
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Mar 30, 2009
Laurie
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This is the 3rd in the series of books by Anne Easter Smith about the end of the York and the beginning of the Tudor lines of English monarchs. They are sympathetic to King Richard III, the king who Shakespeare portrayed as a hunchbacker murderer of his two nephews who were in line for the throne. Richard III was defeated at the Battle of Bosworth by Henry VII, the first in the Tudor line and father of Henry VIII. Of course Shakespeare was a favorite of Queen Elizabeth I, Henry VIII's daughter,
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Apr 07, 2010
Sariah
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This is more of a 2.5 than a 3 in the ratings stars for me. I'm a sucker for historical fiction when it comes to British history. Especially anything even remotely close to Tudor England. I enjoyed the other book I read by Anne Easter Smith, so I had high hopes for this one. I think I forgot that while I enjoyed the other book, I didn't love it. I can't say that I loved this one, either. It was fine, but just not great. It was too long, for one thing. I feel like if you compared Smith to Philli
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Nov 04, 2011
Alice
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I listened to this book on a couple of long trips. I would have liked to hear the author's notes at the beginning as they gave better context to the story. Many readers will be familiar with the story of the princes in the tower from Shakespeare's Tudor propaganda piece, Richard III, to Josephine Tey's Daughter of Time. This is an interesting point of view on the story. Grace is a real historical person, the bastard daughter of Edward IV. The love story thrown into this is quite frankly a bi
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Jun 09, 2009
Isalys
rated it:
Anne Easter Smith has become one of my favorite historical authors. I thoroughly enjoyed her "Rose for the Crown" and "Daughter of York" and her latest "King's Grace" was no exception!
"The King's Grace" is the story of Lady Grace Plantagenet, the bastard daughter of King Edward IV of England. The story takes you from the time that Grace was released from the abbey at age 11 to being accepted as a member of court and into her adulthood, becoming More...
"The King's Grace" is the story of Lady Grace Plantagenet, the bastard daughter of King Edward IV of England. The story takes you from the time that Grace was released from the abbey at age 11 to being accepted as a member of court and into her adulthood, becoming More...
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Apr 13, 2011
Carla
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I was a little intimidated beginning this historical fiction novel, because I know that the characters can be hard to keep straight, and the geography can be confusing. Once I got started, though, even though I did have to work at keeping track of who was who, I got hooked! Grace Plantagenet, the central character, was absolutely delightful and fascinating. The illegitimate daughter of Edward IV in 1485, she was loved and trusted by almost everyone who knew her. This explains why she was entrust
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Feb 07, 2010
Linda
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This books was really slow in the beginning. The first 100-150 pages was extremely hard to get through. After that, it picked up and was a pretty good book.
Spoiler alert-- I was disappointed that her love for John of Gloucester was so one-sided. Since little to nothing is known about Grace Plantagenent, there was no reason that AE Smith didn't allow a love story between Grace and her cousin, instead of the puppy love/little sister relationship.
It was hard to warm to th More...
Spoiler alert-- I was disappointed that her love for John of Gloucester was so one-sided. Since little to nothing is known about Grace Plantagenent, there was no reason that AE Smith didn't allow a love story between Grace and her cousin, instead of the puppy love/little sister relationship.
It was hard to warm to th More...
Aug 06, 2011
Jan
rated it:
I am not a big fan of historical fiction. I do, however like reading about the Tudors and that time period.
The subject along with the length, 570 pages, made me wonder if I'd get through the whole book. Well, the pages just flew by and I was completely hooked.
It takes place in 1485 and the main character is Grace Plantagenet, the illegitimate daughter of Edward IV.
The book revolves around the mystery of two princes who lived in the castle but disappeared without a trace.
It ha More...
The subject along with the length, 570 pages, made me wonder if I'd get through the whole book. Well, the pages just flew by and I was completely hooked.
It takes place in 1485 and the main character is Grace Plantagenet, the illegitimate daughter of Edward IV.
The book revolves around the mystery of two princes who lived in the castle but disappeared without a trace.
It ha More...
Apr 21, 2011
Elizabeth
rated it:
The King’s Grace
Anne Easter Smith
April 6, 2011
I am a huge fan of historical fiction, and I was not disappointed with this book. The writing and story are wonderful. I sometimes can get confused when reading a book of this size since I know it is hard to keep the characters straight, and the geography can be confusing. Having the genealogy in the front was fantastic. Once I got into the book I rarely had to look and see who was who. Grace Plantagenet, the main character, was ab More...
Anne Easter Smith
April 6, 2011
I am a huge fan of historical fiction, and I was not disappointed with this book. The writing and story are wonderful. I sometimes can get confused when reading a book of this size since I know it is hard to keep the characters straight, and the geography can be confusing. Having the genealogy in the front was fantastic. Once I got into the book I rarely had to look and see who was who. Grace Plantagenet, the main character, was ab More...
Apr 15, 2009
Cheryl
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This is a very ingeneous re-telling of the Richard III/Henry Tudor/Princes in the Tower story/mystery as seen through the eyes of a bastard daughter of Edward IV. This one with a focus on the Perkin Warbeck story. As so little is known about the actual fate of the Princes this is a great plausible explanation. The characters are beautifully drawn, the history as accurate as possible and ultimately, as all great historical novels should, leaves you wanting to do your own research and read more. A
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Feb 23, 2011
Kim
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jul 31, 2011
I'm really starting to like everything that Anne Easter Smith puts out. I've now read all three of her novels (focused on Grace Plantagenet, the bastard daugther of Edward IV; Kate Haute the mother of Richard III's baseborn children, including John of Gloucester; and Margaret, Dutchess of Burgundy and sister of Edward IV). I am greatly looking forward to her next book "Queen by Right" in which she tackles the character of Cecily Neville, aka Proud Cis, the mother of Edward IV and Mar
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Jun 07, 2011
Ashley
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To be quite honest, almost every single character in this book annoyed me. The main protagonist, Grace, the bastard daughter of Edward IV, was stupidly naive. She doesn't think anything bad can happen at the start of Tudor England and is constantly shocked whenever something happens, i.e the cruelty to servants, the horrible executions, etc. When her husband swears loyalty to Henry VII, she has a fit because she is a Yorkist and cannot possibly have a husband loyal to the Tudor king, and thus te
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Jul 23, 2009
Amy
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Grace Plantagenet, bastard daughter of King Edward IV of England is only mentioned once in history - in a account written first hand about the small party seen escorting the Dowager Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s funeral barge. This lack of the Grace’s historical background provides the author, Anne Easter Smith, complete control over her heroine, which is quite unique in a historical fiction novel (if it’s a GOOD historical fiction novel, that is!).
Grace spends the first 11 years of h More...
Grace spends the first 11 years of h More...
Aug 27, 2009
Alaine
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I have really enjoyed all of Anne Easter Smith's historical fiction novels. Since reading all three of the books I have gained a much deeper understanding of the Yorks, Lancasters and Tudors. This was a gap in my knowledge of British history so I'm glad I have a better picture in my mind.
Grace Plantagenet is the bastard daughter of Edward Plantagenet and Grace is used as the storyteller for the beginning of the Tudor reign. For most of her life she grew up in the company of her cousi More...
Grace Plantagenet is the bastard daughter of Edward Plantagenet and Grace is used as the storyteller for the beginning of the Tudor reign. For most of her life she grew up in the company of her cousi More...
Aug 13, 2009
Nathalie
rated it:
Once I had read "Daughter of York" I looked for other books by Anne Easter Smith because I had enjoyed it so much. I bought this one and "A Rose for the Crown" at the same time. I enjoyed this one as much as I had the first book I had read by this same author. I learn a little more about the way life was lived in medieval times in each book I read about that period until I feel I have a good grasp on what it was like, at least enough to be glad I did not live then.
Aug 16, 2010
Katie
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I loved this book! I have read all three books by this author and they are all great (this book and Rose for the Crown are my two favorites). The story covers so much of late 1400's English history and the characters (some real and some fictional) are wonderful. The story makes me want to research and learn more about the non-fiction aspects of the story. The book is long but a pretty quick read.
Nov 21, 2009
Tiffany
rated it:
Oh dear. I find it hard to believe this is Smith's third book. Her prose was often clumsy and I thought the rapid shifts in POV made very little narrative sense. I don't normally have a problem with the omniscient voice, but something in this book didn't work. Oddly, she obviously did quite a bit of research on an unresolved historical issue, but the details seemed to weigh down the story rather than buoy it up. Oh, well.
May 07, 2009
Kelle
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This was a historical fiction from the perspective of Grace, an illegitimate daughter of King Edward IV (set in 1485). It revolves around the story of the right to England's throne and the whereabouts of 2 of Edward's missing sons (who were locked up as children). I enjoyed the story and loved how at the end she describes where she took liberties and those things that are known to be true. It was well written. There was some sexuality I could have done without.
Jun 16, 2009
Angie
rated it:
Ms. Smith is a wonderful researcher. She really did her homework on York history for this novel, and she accomplished an interesting piece of fiction to accompany an already compelling story in history. I enjoyed this so much that I have already checked out her other two novels from the library. If you love English history and a great story, check this out.
Nov 25, 2009
May
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Over the past couple of months, I have read some terrific historical fiction centering around real historical female figures who are often mentioned as a mere footnote in textbooks. The lack of historical details provides a huge opportunity for a talented writer like Anne Easter Smith to create both a memorable portrayal of the character and to add a new prospective on an all too familiar chapter in history (e.g. the young princes locked up in London Tower). What I liked best about the book is h
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Aug 21, 2009
Maria
rated it:
Interesting theory about the Lost Princes of England... Given the emotionally generous nature of the protagonist, perhaps a little naive (& I think Ms Easter Smith meant to portray it that way), but nice to see it addressed, especially from a woman's point of view. Having read most historical fiction about Henry II, Henry VII, and Elizabeth I, it was refreshing to read about a royal household in the 15th century.
My only critique about the style of writing, I think is: the author n More...
My only critique about the style of writing, I think is: the author n More...
May 24, 2009
Mary J
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I like reading British history, especially around the war of the Roses and Tudor times. This book gave a background to minor characters, but it tied well with more known figures in history. I like Anne Easter Smith's first book so I want to read more what she writes. My only criticism is that she really goes into to much detail sometimes
Jun 12, 2009
Mary Lou
rated it:
A wonderful story about a minor character in the final years of the York monarchy and the beginnings of the Tudors. This really helped clarify the actual historical events for me--the mystery of the princes in the Tower, the succession to the monarchy of Henry VII and his cruelty and paranoia regarding any possible York claimants to the throne.
Aug 03, 2009
Theresa
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A very good read. My husband commented to me one evening, "You are devouring that book". And so I was. It kept me intrigued at every turn and you wondered what Grace was going to do next. My only issue was that Margaret's actions seemed to be a disconnect from the Margaret we were presented in Daughter of York. I had a hard time buying she would do some of the things she set out to do in this book. Grace was a fun and pleasant character to follow throughout the book. I'd recomme
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Dec 19, 2009
Margo
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This was an interesting novel. Not a great work of literature, but having recently been to the Tower of London, I enjoyed reading the tale of Henry the VII and the pretender who claimed to be one of the princes locked in the Tower and the rightful heir to the thrown.
